Nancy Mbaya
5 July 2009
analysis
Maiduguri — Back in 2003, when Governor Ali Modu Sheriff took over as chief executive of Borno State, the health sector was no doubt in crises.
This was apparently due to neglect that lasted for decades as previous successive governments didn't quite accord the kind of priority needed in that sector. For instance, while Maiduguri, an ancient cultural and commercial city could ordinarily be said to have no less than a million residents, it had only one government owned hospital which was sick because it lacked virtually all features of standard health care establishment. According to records, the Special Hospital, as it is called, had infrastructures that were built since 1924 while the last renovation work carried out there, was done as far back as 1973. As a result, not even an x-ray machine was in the hospital. Structures were so dilapidated to a point where the mere sight of the hospital was embarrassing to every well meaning citizen of Borno State.
Inside and around the hospital, there were unpleasant sights as water from toilets sometimes flowed down to corridors were some patients laid down with smell oozing out, with capacity of aggravating the conditions of the ill. Every time it rained, there was water stampede within the entire hospital with horrible sights besides making movements of vehicles and those on foot, nearly impossible. In summary, the specialist hospital was a seeming jungle.
On coming on board, Governor Sheriff's assessment showed that there was just no way that hospital could be renovated with patients inside it, this was in addition to the fact that one hospital was far too insufficient to the consistently growing population of Maiduguri, which is not only an occasional meeting point for people of the entire state but that which plays host on daily basis to most of the visitors coming into Borno.
Sheriff wanted a brand new world class hospital to move patients in there before focusing on the tattered specialist but then he had to contend with his famous policy of executing projects without collecting local or foreign loans but out of prudent savings. With determination and broad mindedness, Governor Sheriff flagged off the very ambitious project. In record time, common with his style of work, he built an ultra modern 300 beds hospital, equipped with highly sophisticated and rare medical facilities that equal those in teaching or even more superior hospitals. The hospital was commissioned by no lesser person than Mr President, Umaru Musa Yar'adua who testified to the elegance and standard of the hospital, named after the famous Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu. With this scenario, Governor Sheriff ordered that all patients at the tattered Specialist hospital be moved to the ultra modern one while he immediately closed down the sick hospital.
Incredibly, that sick specialist hospital, completely overhauled, has today been transformed into something else. It now looks like a hospital imported from overseas and implanted in Maiduguri. Numerous residents, who on daily basis, troupe in to see things for themselves, remain amazed as to them, the development was akin to the 8th wonders of the world.
While work is already at finishing levels, Sheriff expects to equip the hospital like the sister one.
While readers may be wondering what a feat that was, Governor Sheriff's health sector breakthroughs didn't stop there, his government had constructed and equipped 100-beds model General Hospitals in Askira, Chibok and Bayo local government areas; while it completely overhauled and equipped General Hospitals in Bama, Gwoza, Ngala and Dikwa local governments and as well constructed 10 comprehensive Health Centres at Ngulde, Wulgo, Gunda, Fikayel, Kwajaffa, Ladi Bida, Kubo, Jabulan & Kekeno. Again, SAS as the governor is popularly called, constructed 13 Health Centres under the Health System Development Project. The administration also revived the state's drug revolving fund, continually provide free maternal and infant health services to women and their babies; massively supplies vaccines for Cerebral Spinal Meningitis, Measles and other killer diseases for control and treatment.
Realising that constructing and equipping hospitals with medical facilities and drugs would require combination with a well motivated health work force for better health care delivery, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff ordered the enhancement of Welfare packages for all categories of health workers.
The people of Borno State indeed displayed their appreciation to Sheriff in the manner an overwhelming crowd trouped to the Ramat square in solidarity with SAS on his 6th year anniversary. In the words of the chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Borno chapter, Dr Babagana Bako, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff's feats are "unparalleled in the history of health care development in Borno State". Which other association will make contrary assessment?
Mrs Mbaya is Special Adviser on Media to Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. She writes from Maiduguri, Borno State.
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